The Courageous Life

Dr. Jo Boaler is a professor of education and equity at Stanford University and the faculty director of youcubed—an education resource that has reached over 230 million students. She is the author of the first MOOC on mathematics teaching and learning, as well as nine mathematics books and numerous research articles. Her work has been published in the New York Times, TIME magazine, The Telegraph, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and many other news outlets. She was named by the BBC as one of eight educators “changing the face of education.” Her latest book is: Limitless Mind: Learn, Lead & Live without Barriers, published by Harper Collins.In this episode Jo shares: Her incredible story of overcoming academic bullying and what it taught her about resilience and connectionWhat neuroplasticity is, why it's a game changing finding in neuroscience, and how understanding the way our brains work can transform the ways we learn, lead & liveThe neuroscience behind why mistakes are actually a good thingHow she teaches students to embrace mistakes, and learn from failureThe neurobiology of fear, and how curiosity may be an antidote to the fear responseHow adopting a growth mindset can be a key to living without limitsThe importance of believing in oneself and why anyone can learn anythingAnd much more!If you found this episode as inspiring as I did, please share it with friends and take a moment to let us know what you thought by rating the show on iTunes.Show notes and more can be found at joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening!Support the show

Tania de Jong (pronounced Yong) AM is a trail-blazing Australian soprano, global speaker, award-winning social entrepreneur, creative innovation catalyst and spiritual journeywoman. Tania is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators, developing 5 businesses and 3 charities over the past 3 decades including, but not limited to Creative Universe, Creativity Australia and the With One Voice program, Creative Innovation Global, and Mind Medicine Australia. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and named one of the 100 Women of Influence and the one of the 100 Australian Most Influential Entrepreneurs. Tania has released eleven Albums and her TEDx Talk How Singing Together Changes The Brain has sparked international interest. To learn more about Tania, and the work she is doing please visit taniadejong.comIn this episode Tania shares: Her incredible story of being told by her best friend at 14 years old not to bother having singing lessons, and how this drove her to a successful career as a singer and entrepreneurPowerful lessons in unlocking creativity and innovation she first learned from the inventor of the foldable umbrella, who just happened to be her grandmotherThe backstory on the With One Voice choir program, a non-profit focused on empowering individuals to find their voice through communityHow she deals with fear and uncertaintyHow to turn failure into opportunities for learning and growthHer thoughts on the importance of diversity, inclusion, and community for creativityAnd more!Please rate the show on iTunes!Find show notes and more at www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening and enjoy the show!Support the show

Please enjoy this free BONUS guided meditation from Shelly Tygielski. This brief practice is intended to promote a sense of ease, and help one deal with uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. For more on Shelly please listen to episode 46 of the Courageous Life and check out pandemicoflove.comSupport the show

This is one of the most important and timely conversations I have had on the Courageous Life. Shelly Tygielski, a friend and return guest to the show, has started a movement called The Pandemic of Love. In response to the challenges surrounding COVID-19 including job loss, furloughs, illness, etc - the Pandemic of Love has connected over 10,000 families (to-date) in need of basic essentials like food and medicine with 10,000+ patrons who are offering support (financial or otherwise). Launched on March 14th, 2020 this movement is already going viral, with over 280 volunteers working behind-the-scenes, and more and more people connecting to help each other, and to spread love each and every day. Shelly and I will get into all the details and backstory on the Pandemic of Love about 30 minutes into the episode. If you want to get involved now, please go to pandemicoflove.comIn this episode Shelly shares:Her inspiring story of how and why she got into the work she is doing today as a community organizer, activist, and meditation teacherHow meditation has helped her to rise up in the face of adversity and challenges in her lifeWhat her meditation practice involves todayCoping strategies for dealing with fear and uncertainty related to COVID-19The incredible story behind the Pandemic of Love, why she started it, and how to get involvedShelly has also offered a brief meditation for dealing with uncertainty that you will find included as a BONUS mini episode of the Courageous Life. About Shelly:Shelly Tygielski is a “modern-life mindfulness” teacher and “self-care activist” who focuses much of her time on communities that are underserved, with social justice and community organizations, non-profits and schools. Shelly was made to create movements and regularly runs into the flames to help people in need. She is deeply involved in offering trauma-informed healing practices to communities affected by gun violence and mass shootings and has led retreats for survivors and victims’ families representing Parkland, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Aurora, Columbine and more. She also started the “Sand Tribe”community in Hollywood Beach, Fl that grew from 12 friends meditating together to over 15,000 individuals that practice together on a regular basis. She was featured on the cover of Mindful Magazine® in June 2019 for her work in this space and was recently referred to as one of the most “Powerful Women in Mindfulness” by mindful.org. Her work and classes have been featured on mindful.org, Tricycle, The New York Times and dozens of national and international television and online platforms. Support the show

Jerry Colonna is the CEO, and co-founder, of Reboot.io, an executive coaching and leadership development firm whose coaches and facilitators are committed to the notion that better humans make better leaders. For nearly 20 years, he has used the knowledge gained as an investor, an executive, and a board member for more than 100 organizations to help entrepreneurs and others to lead with humanity, resilience, and equanimity. He believes not only that work does not have to destroy us, but that work can be the way to achieve our fullest selves. Jerry is the author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up. Previous to his career as a coach he was a partner with JPMorgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of JP Morgan Chase. He joined JPMP from Flatiron Partners, which he launched 1996 with partner, Fred Wilson. Flatiron became one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs in the New York City area. You can learn more about Jerry at www.reboot.ioIn this episode Jerry and I discuss:The process of moving from reaction to choice in our livesHow slowing down and engaging in deep questions about what matters can be a radical actHow he defines "radical self-inquiry" and why this is so foundational to his work with leadersHow to let go of old patterns of behavior and ways of being that are no longer serving usStories from his 1x1 work with some of his coaching clientsWhy resilience and equanimity are the larger aims of the work he doesOvercoming fear through courage and curiosityThe importance of a compassionate approach when we reboot our lives, and the way we leadPlease rate the show on iTunes!Show notes can be found at www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening and enjoy the show!Support the show

Shauna Shapiro, PhD is a best-selling author, clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She is a professor at Santa Clara University and has published over 150 papers and three critically acclaimed books, translated into 16 languages. Her latest book, Good Morning I Love You: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity + Joy was released in January of 2020. Shauna has presented her research to the King of Thailand, the Danish Government, Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Summit, and the World Council for Psychotherapy, as well as to Fortune 100 Companies including Google, Cisco Systems and LinkedIn. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Mashable, Wired, USA Today, Dr. Oz, the Huffington Post, and the American Psychologist. Shauna is a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, co-founded by the Dalai Lama. Her TEDx Talk, The Power of Mindfulness, has been viewed over 1.5 million times. For more on Shauna visit www.drshaunashapiro.comIn this episode Shauna shares:How meditation helped her during one of the darkest times in her lifeInsights into her own personal mindfulness practice, including benefits she has experienced from meditatingTips for getting started with a daily mindfulness practiceThe IAA (Intention, Attention, Attitude) framework for practicing mindfulnessA simple equation for reducing suffering in our livesHow, and why, she let go of perfectionism and embraced self-compassion in her own lifeHow mindfulness and self-compassion practices can change your brain for greater calm, clarity, and joyWhy shame and self-criticism are poor strategies when it comes to achievementRate the show on iTunes!Show notes can be found at www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening!Support the show

Robin Dreeke is a best-selling author, professional speaker, trainer, facilitator, and retired FBI Special Agent and Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, which has been depicted in TV and movies, including the acclaimed show Mind Hunter on Netflix. Robin has taken his life's work of recruiting spies and broken down the art of leadership, communication, and relationship building into Five Steps to TRUST and Six Signs of who you can TRUST. Since 2010, Robin has been working with large corporations as well as small companies in every aspect of their business. Whether it is newly promoted leaders, executives, sales teams, or customer relations, Robin has crafted his People Formula for quick results and maximum success. He is the author of multiple books, including Sizing People Up, and The Code of Trust. Learn more about Robin at www.peopleformula.comIn this episode Robin shares: His background working in counterintelligence for the FBIWhat he learned about building trust from recruiting spies.Why building healthy professional relationships is one of the keys to living a fulfilling and meaningful lifeStrategies for regulating emotions and staying rational and calm under pressureWhy curiosity may be an antidote to fearHow to build trust in the face of division and tribalismAnd more!Please rate the show on iTunes!Show notes can be found at www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening and enjoy the show!Support the show

Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University who specializes in understanding the mind-body connection. As a pioneer in the field of "science-help," her mission is to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal well-being and strengthen communities. She is the best-selling author of The Willpower Instinct and The Upside of Stress. Through the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, she helped create Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training, a program now taught around the world that helps individuals strengthen their empathy, compassion, and self-compassion. You might know her from her TED talk, "How to Make Stress Your Friend," which is one of the most viewed TED talks of all time, with over 20 million views. Her new book, The Joy of Movement, explores why physical exercise is a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Learn more about Kelly at kellymcgongial.comIn this episode Kelly shares:Why reflecting on your values and clarifying what matters most to you can be one of the most powerful practices for changing habits and behaviorPractical skills for being able to better tolerate distress and discomfortStrategies for dealing with fear and cultivating courage including one of Kelly's favorite practicesMore skillful ways to navigate stressWhy asking for help, and receiving support from others can be a strength, and a form of self-compassionHow exercise and movement can create hope, courage, connection, and happiness in our lives (and some of the science as to why)Her process for creating powerful public talks, writing books, and connecting with audiencesPlease rate the show on iTunes!For show notes and more visit www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening!Support the show

Cory Muscara is an international speaker and teacher on the topics of presence and wellbeing. He has taught mindfulness-based leadership at Columbia University, and currently serves as an instructor of positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his graduate work. In 2012, Cory spent six months in silence living as a monk in Burma, meditating 14-20 hours each day under the instruction of the late Sayadaw U Pandita. A frequent guest on the Dr. Oz show, he now aims to bring these teachings to people in a practical and relatable way, presenting to schools, organizations, and healthcare systems, as well as through workshops and retreats for the general public. Cory’s meditations have been heard more than 10 million times in over 50 countries. He looks forward to connecting with you through his first book, Stop Missing Your Life: How to Be Deeply Present in an Un-Present World. For more on Cory visit www.corymuscara.com.In this episode we explore: Cory’s journey around writing his new book, Stop Missing Your LifeInsights Cory gained in overcoming roadblocks in the creative processWhat presence is and why it is so important4 pillars for becoming more present in your life and relationshipsWhy curiosity is the opposite of fear and how it can help you to deepen presenceHow to let go of old habits that are no longer helpfulPractical strategies for building, or deepening a meditation practiceBenefits from practicing meditation more than you think you canPlease rate the show on iTunes! Find show notes for this episode at www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening!Support the show

Parker J. Palmer is a writer, teacher, and activist. Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal, he has written ten books, including the bestselling Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, A Hidden Wholeness, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and thirteen honorary doctorates. In 1998, The Leadership Project, a national survey of ten thousand educators, named Palmer as one of the thirty “most influential senior leaders” in higher education and one of the ten key “agenda-setters” of the past decade. Since 2002, the Accrediting Commission for Graduate Medical Education has given annual Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” and “Courage to Lead” Awards to directors of exemplary medical residency programs around the U.S. In 2010, Palmer received the William Rainey Harper Award, whose previous recipients include Margaret Mead, Elie Wiesel, and Paolo Freire. In 2011, the Utne Reader named him one of 25 Visionaries on its annual list of “People Who are Changing the World.” To learn more about Parker and his latest project, The Growing Edge, please visit newcomerpalmer.comIn the first episode of Season 2 we explore: Some of Parker's personal story including challenges and adversities he has faced and how these have shaped his lifeWhat wholeness is and the courage it takes live an undivided lifeParker's insights about writing, speaking, and connecting with an audienceLessons Parker has learned about finding courage and working with fearThe power of reframing situations and circumstances one facesHow to listen deeplyFinding one's vocation in lifeHow to create conditions that foster courage in others And more!Please rate the show on iTunes and let us know what you think!For show notes and more visit www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcastThanks for listening!Support the show